Antispasmodics are medications used to treat cramps or spasms that occur in the stomach, intestines and bladder. Certain digestive conditions are treated with antispasmodics, including irritable bowel syndrome and urinary incontinence (the inability to control urine flow). The drugs may also be used to help prevent nausea and vomiting and motion sickness.

In some cases, antispasmodics may be used with another drug as a means of therapy. For example, antispasmodics may be used with antacids to treat peptic ulcers.

Antispasmodics are available in pill, tablet, capsule, syrup, injection and suppository form.

Patients who use these drugs should inform their physician of any medical condition they may have because certain symptoms can be worsened by using antispasmodics. For example, antispasmodics may increase a patient’s heart rate, which can aggravate symptoms for individuals with bleeding problems. In addition, the use of certain drugs can trigger undesirable side effects in some patients.